Second part of The shepherd of Salisbury-Plain

SEC

N D PART

OF THE

SHEPHERD

»

■ •

O F

SALISBURY- PL AIR

DUBLIN:

SOLD BY WILLIAM WATSON, AND SO-N

No, 7, Cafe l Street,
Printers to the Cheap Repofttory for Religious and Moral Tr^s ,
And by the Booksellers, Chap.^eh and Hawum,

in Town and Country

^ Great Allowance to Shopkeepers, Chapmen *B<3 Hawker*

Price O^k Pknhy

THE

Shepherd of Salifbiiry Plain.

P A R T II.

IT AM willing to hope that my reefers will
L be forry to hear fome farther panicu-
lars of tfjejr old acquaintance the Shepherd of
Sahfbury Plain. I hey will call to mind thac
at the end of the- fidV part, he returning
home lull of gratitude for the favours he had
received from Mr, Johnfcn, whom we left
purfuing his journey, after having promued
to make a vifii the Shepherd's Cottage.

Mr. iohnfon, afrer having pasted fome
time with his f iend, fat out on bis return to
Sahibury, and on the Saturdav evening reach-
es a very fma i inn, a mile or two diftant
from the SfrepfierH's Village; tor he nev.?r
traveiled on a Suaday. He went the next
'tn M'nmg to the Church n'earei! the houfe
where he had paffed die night ; and alter. ta-
king fuch refrefhtnent as L^e. could get at that
ho ife, he walked on to find out -the Shep-
herd's cottage, His reafon for viiiung him
on a Sunday was chiefly, becaufe he. rap]
fed it to be the only day which fhe She^v
herd's employment allowed 'him to pais jft
home with his family, and as Mr. jolmibn
had been ft ruck with his talk, he rhoiyht it

A % would

[ 4 ]

would be neither unpleafant nor unprofitable
to obferve how a Man who carried fuch an
appearance of piety, fpent his Sunday ; for
though he was lo low in the world, this Gen-
tleman was not above entering very clofely
Into his character, of which he thought he
fhould be able to form a better judgrfient, by
feeing whether his practice at home kept
pace with his profeffions abroad. For it is not
ib much by obferving how people ralk, €S
how they live, that 'we ought to judge of
their characters.

Afrer a ple.ifant walk Mr. Johnfon got
within fight of the cottage, to which he was
direfled by the clump of hawthorns and the
broken chimney. He wifhed to take the fa-
mily by furprife ; and walking gently up to
the houfe, he flood awhile to liften. The
door being half open, he faw the Shepherd,
(who looked To refpeCtahie in his Sunday
Coat that he fhould hardly have known him)
his Wife, and their numerous young family,
drawing round their little table, which was
covered with a clean though very coarfe cloth.
There flood on it a large diih of potatoes, a
brown pitcher, and a piece of a coarfe loaf.
The wife and children flood in filent attenti-
on, while the Snepherd with uplifted hands
and eyes, devoutly begged the bleffing of hea-
ven on their homely fare. Mr. Johnfon
could not help fighing to refled that he had
ibmttimes feen better dinners eaten with lefs
appearance of thankfulness.

L 5 I

The Shepherd and his wife then fat down
with great fcedfiingpli.eerfulne.fs-, hut the chil-
dren flood; and while the '-'mother was . helj??
ing them, little fr ih coloured Molly who
had picked the wool from the bafhes with fo
much delight, cried out, "Father, I vvifh I
was big enough to fay grace, 1 am fure 1
fhould fay it very heartily to clay tor I was
thinking what mud poor people do who have
no fait to their potatoes, and do but tcok,
our difh is quite f\ ■ M .'— " That is the true
way of thinking, Molly," faiti the Father;
" in whatever concerns bodily wants and bo-
dily comforts, it is our duty to compare our
own lot with 'the lot of thofe who are worfe
off, and this will keep us thankful ; On the
other hand, whenever we are templed to fet
up our own wifdom or goodnefs, we muft
compare ourfelves with thofe who are wifer
and better, and tint will, keep us humble."
Molly was now fo hungry, and found the po-
tatoes fo good, that me had no time to make
any more remarks ; but was devouring her
dinner very heartily, when the harking of the
great dog drew her attention from her tren-
cher to the door, and spying the it ranger, ;he
cried out, " look father, fee here, if yon-
der is not the good Gentleman." Mr. john-
fon finding himfelf difcovrred, immensely
walked in, ana was hear till welcomed by the
honen Shepherd, who told his wife t lat nis
wh die Gentleman to whom they were fo
much obliged.

A 3 The

( 6 )

The good Woman began, as forre very
near geople are rather too apt to do, with
making many apologies that her houfc was
pot cleaner, and that things were not in fitter
older to receive fuch a gentleman Mr, Jphri-
foii however, on looking round, could dilco-
ver nothing but the moft perfecl neatnefs.
1 he trenchers on which they were eating were
almoft as whbe as their linen; and notwithstand-
ing the number and fmallnels of the children,
there wa^ not the lead appearance of dirt or
litter The furniture. was very llmple ?nd
poor, hardly indeed amounting to bare ne-
eeflarfes. It confined of tour brown wooden
chairs, which, by conftant rubbing wore be-
come as bright as a looking glafs ; an iron
pot and ketife ; a poor old grate which fcarce-
ly held a handful of coals, and out of which
she little fire that had been in it. appeared to
have been taken, as icon as it had anlwered
*he end for which it had been lighted, that
oi feiHng their p. tuoes. Over the chimney
flood an oJd iaihioned broad bright candle-
Kick, andaftili brighter f pit ; it wfe pretty
clear that this lafl was kept rather tor orpfc
mmt than ufe. An old carved elbow chair,
and a chef! of the fame date which flood in
ihe corner, were conhdered the moft valu-
able part of the Shepherd's goods, having
been in the iamilv for three generations, But
all thefe were lightly efleemed by him m
comcarifon of another pofleflion, which ad-
ded to the above made up the whole ot what

' ( ? P . ; %

he had inherited from his father ; and which
la ft he would not have parted with, if no other
could have been had, for a king's ranfom: this
Was a large old Bible, which lay on the win-
dow feat, neatly covered with brown cloth,
varioufly patched. This facred book was moft
reverendly preferred from dog's ears, dirt,
and every other injury, but fuch as time and
muehufe had made it fuffer in fpite of care,
On the clean white walls was pafted, a hymn
on the Crucifixion of our Saviour, a print of
the Prodigal Son, the Shepherd's Hymn, and
a New Hijlory of a true Book.

After the lirft fal illations were over, Mr.
Johnfon faid, that if they would go on qtU-
etly with their. dinner he wouid fit down.
Though a good dea^ alhamed, they thougot
it more reipedtful to obey the Gentleman,
who havittgcaft his eyes on iheirllender pro*
vifions, gently rebuked the Shepherd for not
having indulged h-imfdf, as 'it wm Sunday,
withamorfel of Bacon to retifli bis Potatoes.
The Shepherd lakl nothing, but poof 'vJary
coloured and hung down her head, laying,
"indeed, fir, it is not my fault, I did beg
my 'hulband to allow himfelf a bit of meat to
dav out of your honour's .bounty; but he
was too good to do it, and it is ail for my
fake." Ihe Shepherd feemed unwilling to
come to an explanation, but Mr Johnlon de-
filed Mary to go on. So (lie continued, " you
m u ft know Sir, that both of us next to a fin,
dread a debt, and indeed in fome cales a debt

( 8 )

is a fin ; but with a!! our care and pains we
have never been able quite to pay off the
Doctor's bill, for that bad tit of the Rheu-
maiifm which I had laft winter. Now when
you were pleafed to give my hufband that
kind prefent the other day, I heartily defired
him to buy a bit of meat for Sunday, as I
faid before, that he might have a little re-
freshment for himfelf out of your kindnefs.
But anfwered he, Mary, it is never out of my
mind long together that we ftill owe a few
fhillings to the Dodor,' (and thank God it is
all we did owe in the world.) Now if I car-
ry him this mone\ di redly it will not only
fhew him our honefty and our good will ; but
it will be an encouragement to him to come
to you another time in cafe you (hould be ta-
ken once more in fuch a bad fit ; for I muft
own, added my poor hufband, that the thought
of your beingYo terribly ill without any help,
is the only misfortune that I want courage to

Here the grateful woman's tears ran down
fo faft that fhe could not go on. She wiped
them with the corner of her apron, and hum-
blv begged pardon for making fo free. " In-
deed Sir, " laid the Shepherd, " though my
wife is full as unwilling to be in debt as my-
felf, yet I could hardly prevail on her to con-

caufe fhe feM it was hard 1 fhould not have a
tare ot the Gentleman's boun.ty myfeii But
for once, Sir, I would have my own way.

fac

money jufi: then, be-

For

( 9 )

For you muft know, as 1 pafs beft part oi
my time alone, tending my fheep, 'tis a great
point with me, Sir, to get comfortable mat-
ter for my own thoughts ; fo that 'tis rather
felf imereft in me to allow my fell in no plea-
fares and no pra&ice* that won't bear think-
ing on over and over. For when one is a good
deal alone you know, Sir, all one's bad deeds
do rufh in upon one, as I may fay, and fo
torment one, that there is no true comfort to
be had but in keeping clear of wrong doings,
and falfe pleafures ; and that I fuppofc may
be one reafon why fo many folks hate to fl ay
a bit by themfelves.— But as I was faying™
when I came to think the matter over on the
hill vonder, faid 1 to m>fclf, a good dinner
is a good thing I grant, and yet it will be but
cold comfort to me a week after, to be able
to fay — to be fure 1 had a nice (boulder of
mutton left Sunday for dinner, thanks to the
good Gentleman, but then 1 am in debt.— I
Harare dinner, that's certain, buttheplea-
fure of that has long been over, and the debt
flill remains. I have fpent the crown, and
now if my poor wife fhould be taken in one
of thofe fits again, die (he muft, unlefs God
work a miracle io prevent it, for I can get no
help for her. This thought feitled all ; and
1 fet off dfreSly and paid the crown to the
Do&or with as much chearful'nefa as I fhould
have felt on fitting down to the fattefl flioul-
der of mutton that ever was roafted And
if I was contented at the time, think how

A c much

( io )

much more happy I have been at the remem-
brance ! G Sir, there arc no phafure- worth
the name but fueh as bring no plague or pe-
nitence after them."

Mr. Johnfon was fatisfied with the Shep-
herd's reafons; and agreed that though a
good dinner was not to be defpifed, yet it
was not worthy to-be compared with a content-
ed Mind which (as the Bible trui'v fays) is a
continual fcaji. " But come, laid the good
Gentleman, what have yuu got in this brown
mu??" M As good water, laid the Shepherd,
as any in the king s dominions. I have heard
of countries bejond fea in which there is no
wholefbme water; nay, 1 have been myfelf
in a great town not far off where they are o-
bliged to buy all the water they get, while a »
good Providence fends to my very dour a
Id ring as fine and clear a° Jacob's well. Whefi
l/am tempted to repine thai i hiv.- often no
other drink, 1 cail to mind, that it was no-
thing better than a cup of coki water which
the woman of Samaria drew for the ^reateft
g&eff thai ever vifited this world. 5 '

<s Very well, replied Mr. Johnfon ; but a5 "
ioiir honefly has made \ou prefer a poor
rnea' to being in debt, 1 will a? lead flhd and
get fo me tli"in.| for yon to drink. I law a Hitle
public nctfle juft by the cherch, c.s I came a-
fonfe; Let that' little n-fy faced fellow fetch.

t n e t< o \ v. j i v ' ei *

■ ! ; xi r A l ill l- at
h'lVt fill} {tn

eye at bib father to know what he was to do.

^* Sir:

( ii 3 .

" Sir, faid the Shepherd, I hope we (hail
not appear ungrateful, if we feein to refufe
your favour ; my little boy would, I am fare,
fly to ierve you on any other occafion. But*
good Sir, it is Sunday, and fhould any of my
tamiiy be feen at a Public houfe on a Sab-
bath' day, it would be a much greater grief to
me than to drink water all my life, 1 am of-
ten talking againft thefe doings to others, and
if I mould fay one thing and do another, you
can't think what an advantage it would give,
many of my neighbours over me, who would
be glad enough to report that they caught the
Shepherd's Son at the Ale-houfe, without
explaining how it happened, Chrifiians you
know, Sir,. muft be doubly watchful, or they
will not only bring difgrace on themfelves,
but what is much worfe, on that holy name
by which they are called. 5 '

" Are you not a little too cautious, my.
honeft friend," faid Mr. johnfon. V i hum-
bly afk your pardon, Sir, replied the Shep-
herd, if I think that is impofiible. In my
poor notion I no more underfiand how a man-
can be too cautious, than how he can be too
ftrong or too healthy."

" You are right indeed, faid Mr. Johnfon,
as a general principle, but this'-firuck me as.
a very fmalj thfm , ' Si*, fdM the Shepherd,
I am ai raid you will think me very bold, but
you encourage me to fpeak out."—'' - Tis
what ! wiflii faid the gentleman." " Then*
Sir, refumed the Shepherd, i doubt, if where

there

( *2 )

there is a temptation to do wrong, any thing
can be called final] ; thai is, in fhort, it there
is any fuch thing as a fmali wilful fin. A poor
man like me is feldom called out to do great
things, fo that t is not by a few great deeds
bis charatfer can be judged by his neighbours,
but by the little round of daily cuftoms he
allows himfeif in. — While they were thus talk-
ing, the children who had flood very quietly
behind, and had not A ir red a foot, now ^ be-
gan to fcamper about all at once, and in a
moment ran to the window-feat to pick up
their little old hats. Mr. Johnibn looked fur-
prifed at this diflyrbance ; the Shepherd afked
his pardon, telling him it was the found of
the Church Bell which had been the caufe of
their rudenefs ; for their Mother had brought
them up with fuch a fear of being too late
for Church, that it was but who could catch
the fir ft firoke of the bell, and be firft
ready. He had always taught them to
think that nothing was more indecent than to
get into Church after it was begun ; for as the
iervice opened with an exhortation to repen-
tance, and a confeffion of fin, it looked very
prefumptueus not to be ready to join in it ;
it looked as if people did not feel themfelves
to be fipners. And though fuch as lived at a
great diflarce might plead difference of clocks
as an escufe, yet thofe who lived within the
found oi the bell, could neither pretend ig-
norance nor miilakeJ'

Mary and her children fet forward. Mr.
fc&afon and the Shepherd iollowed, taking
i care

£ -

t n ) .

care to talk the whole way on fuch fubjefts
as might fit them for ?he folemn dutiesof the
place to which they were going. **■! have
often been forry to obferve,faid,Mr.Johnfon,
that many who are reckoned decent, good
kind of people,and who would on no account
negleft going to church, yet feem to care
but little in what frame or temper of mind
they go thither. 1 hey will talk of their
worldlyconcerns till they get within the door,
and then take then up again the very minute
the fermon is over, which makes me ready
to fear they lay too much ftrefs on the mere
form of going to a place of worfhip. Now
for my part, I always find that it requires a
little time to bring my mind into a ftate fit
to do any common bufinefs well, much more
this great and mod neceffary bufmefsof all."
%i Yes Sir, faid the Shepherd, and then I
think too how bufy J fhould be in preparing
my mind, if 1 was going into the prefence
ot a great gentleman, or a lord, or the King;
and (hall the king of kings be treated with
lefs refpedt ? Befides one likes to fee people
feel as if going to Church was a thing of
choice and pleafure, as well as a duty and
that they were as defirous not to be the laft
there, as they would be if they were going
to a feaft or a fair."

After fervice, Mr Jenkins theOergyman,
who was well acquainted with thechara&er
of Mr Johnfon, and had a great refpefl for
\\irn, accofted him with much civility ; ex-

pre/fing

1/

( H )

"prcffing his concern that he could not enjoy
jufl now fo much of his converfation as he
wifhed, as he was obliged to vifit a ftck pef-
fon at adiftance, but hoped to have a little
talk with him before he left the village. As
they walked along together, Mr. Johnfon
made fuch enquiries about the Shepherd, as
ferved to confirm him in the high opinion he
entertained of his piety, good fenfe, induftry
and ielf denial. They parted, the ( lergy-
man promifing to call in at the Colt age in his

way home. *

The Shepherd, who took it for granted
that Mr. johnfon was gone to the Parf nage,
walked home with his wife, and children, and
was beginning in his ufual way to catechize
and inftrua his family, when Mr. Johnfon
came in, and infilled that the Shepherd fhouid
Jo on with his inflrucftions, juft as if he were
not there. This Gentleman who was very
defirous of being ufeful to his own Servants
and work- men in the way of religious induc-
tion, was lometimes forrv to find that though
he' took a .good deal of pains, they did not
now and then quite underfland him, for
though his meaning was very good, his lan-
guage was not always very plain; and
though ihetLwgs he laid were not hard to be
understood, yet t)jj$ ywords wfere, efpeciaHy to
fuch as were very ignorant. And he now be-
gran to find out that if people were ever fo
wife and good, yet if they had not a fimpie,
aareeabte and iamiUar way of exprefiing

° them-

themfelves, fome of their plain hearers won!
not be much the better for them. For th
reafon he was not above lillening to the plain,
humble way in which this honeft man taught
his family, for though he knew that he him-
felf had many advantages ever the Shepherd,
had more learning and could teach him many
things, yet he was not too pioM to learn even
of fo poor a man, in any point where he
thought the Shepherd might have the advan-
tage of him.

This Gentleman was much pleafed with
the knowledge and piety he difcovered in the
anfwers of the children;' and defired the Shep-
herd to tell him how he contrived to keep up
a feme of divine tilings in his own mind and
in that of his family with fo little Ieifure and
fo little reading. " O as to that, Sir, faid
the Shepherd, we do not read much except in
one book to befure; but by hearty prayer
tor God's bleffing on the uie of that book,,
what little knowledge is needful feems to
come ofcourle, as it were. And my chief
ftudy has been to bring the fruits of the Sun-
day reading into the week's. buhnefs, and to
keep up the fame fenfe of God in the heart,
when the Bible is in the cupboard as when it
.is in the hand. In fhort, to apply what I
read in the bool^to what I meet with in the
Field"-

" I don't quite underfland you, faid Mr a
johnfon" " Sir, replied the" Shepherd, I
have but a poor gift at convening thefe things

$ to

//

I ' ( 16 )

fj toothers, though I have much comfort from
I them in my own mind; but 1 am fure that
the mod ignorant and hard working people,
who are in earneft about their falvation, may
help to keep up devout thoughts and good
affections during the week, though they have
hardly any time to look at a book. —And it
will help them to keep out bad thoughts
too which is no fmall matter. But then they
" mufl know the Bible ; they muft have read
the word of God; that is a kind of flock in
trade for a Chriftian (o-fet up with ; and ft is
this which makes me fo diligent in teaching
it to my children ; and even in fo ftoring their
! memories wuh Pfalms and Chapters lhis
I is a great help to a poor hard working Man,
who will hardly meet with any thing but
1 what he mav turn to fume good account. It
' one lives in the fear and love of God, almoft
! every thing one fees abroad will teach one to
1 adore his power and goodnefs, and bring to
< mind fome texts of Scripture, which mail fill
the heart with thankfulnefs, and the mouth
I with praife. When 1 look upwards the
! Heavens declare the glory of God; and
fhali oe blent and ungrateful ? if I look
round and fee the Vallies Handing thick with
Corn, how can 1 he p bSeffmg that power who
jri-Oetb me all things richly to enjoy ? I may
iearn gratitude from the beans of the Field,
for the Oxknoweih his Owner, and the Ah his
Mafiei 's Crib, and mail a ChriiUan not know,
fhall a Chriftian not conlider what great things

God has done for him ? I, who am a Shep-
herd, endeavour to fill my foul with a conftant
remembrance of that good Shepherd, who
fcedeih me in green pajiures , and waketh me to
lie down bejide the jhli waters, and whoje rod
end ftaff comfort me.

!" You are happy, faid Mr. Jchnfon, in
this retired life by which you efcape the cor-
ruptions of the world." " Sir, faid the Shep-
herd, 1 do not efcape the corruptions of my
own evil nature. Even there on that wild fo-
litary hil!, I can find out that my heart is
prone to evil thoughts. I fuppofe, Sir, that
different flates have different temptations.
You great folks that live in the world, per-
haps are expo fed to fome,of which fuch a poor
man as 1 am, know nothing. But to one
who leads a lonely life like me, evil thoughts
are a chief befeting Sin ; and I can no more
withfiand thefe without the grace of God, than
a rich Gentleman can withfiand the fnares of
evil company, without the fame grace. And
I feel that J ftand in need of God's help conti-
nually, and if he ftiould give me up to my
own heart I fhould be loft.

Mr. Johnfon approved of the Shepherd's
fmcerity, for he had always obferved that
where there was no humility, and no watch-
fulnefs againfi. Sin, there was no religion, and
he faid that the Man who did not feel him felt
to be a fmner, in his opinion, could not be
a chriftian.

juft

( 18 )

Juft as they were in this part of their dif-
courfe, Mr. Jenkins, the Clergyman, came
in. After thq ufual fahitations, he faid,
" Wei 1 'Shepherd, I wifh you joy ; I know
you will be forry to gain any advantages by
the neath of a neighbour ; but old Wilfon
my Clerk, was fo infirm, and I truft fo well
prepared, that there is no reafon to be forry
for his death. I have been to pray by him,
but he died while 1 ftaid. I have always in-
tended you fhould fucceed to his place; 'tis
no great matter, but every little is fomething."

" Mo great matter, Sir cried the Shepherd,'
indeed it is a tfreat thins to Me ; it will more
than pay my rent. Bleued be God for all his
goodnefs." Mary faid nothing, but lifted up
her eyes full of tears infilent grethuue.

I am glad of this little circumstance, fai 1
Mr. Jenkins, not only for your fake, but for
the office itfeif. I fo heartily reverence every
religious inftitution, that 1 would never have
even iht Amen added to the excellent prat ers
of our Church, by vain or profane t|p ; and
if it depended on me, there fnould be no
fuch thing in the land as an idle, drunken, or
irreligious Parifh-Cierk. Sorry i am to fay
that this matter i§ not always fuificientiy at-
tended to, and that I know fome of a very
indifferent character.

Mr. John fori now inquired of the clergyman
Whether there were many children in the Pa-
ri ill. "More than yap would expecl,replied he,
from the fcemme fmallnefs of it, but there

are

• ( 19 }

are fome tittle Hamlets which you do not fee."
" I think, returned Mr. Johnlbn, 1 recollect
that in tire converfation 1 had with the Shep-
herd on the hill yonder, he told me you had
no Sunday School/' " 1 am forry to fay we
have none, faid the Minifler ; I do what I
can to remedy this misfortune by public cate-
chifing ; but having two or three Churches to
ferve, I cannot give fo much time as I wifh,
to private inflriidtion ; and having a large
family of rny own, and no affiftance ironi
others, i have never been able to eftablifh a
School.^ ;iV;^:- : -" ' . > ' g|

6i There is an excellent infiitution in Lon-
don, faid Mr. |chnion, called the Sunday •
School Society, which kindly gives books and
other helps, on the application of fuch pious
Miniflers as fiand in need of their aid, and
which I am fre would have affifled you; but
I think we fliail be able ;odo fom'?thing our-
felves.— Shepherd continued he, if 1 was a
King, and had it in my power to make you a
rich and a great Man, with a word fpeaking, I
would not do it, Thofe who are raifed by
fome fudden froke, much above the fiation
in which divine, providence had placed them*
feidom turn out very good, or very happy,
I have never had any great things in my pow-
er, but as far as I have been, abie, i have
been always glad to affift the worthy. I. have
hovyever never attempted or denred to fet any
poor Man much above his natural' condition,
but it is a pleafure to me to lead him fuch

JuiUince*

HI »■ !■ Ml M I ai III HIH lll—W III Ml IIH II 1 1 1 WIIIW IMIimmjlJPWIIf—l

( ■ ^J' -1

fcffifiBfKfc, as may make that condition more
eafy to himfelf, and to put him in a way
which fhail call him to toe performance of
more duties than perhaps he could have per-
formed without my help, and of performing
them in a better manner. What Rent do you
pay for this Cottage ?

" Fifty Shillings a Year, Sir."

It is in a fad tattered condition, is there
not a better to be had in the Village. '*

'* That in which the poor Clerk lived, faid
the Clergyman, is not- only more tight and
whole, but has two decent chambers, and a
very large light kitchen." — " That will be
very - convenient, replied Mr, Johnfon, pray
what is the rent?" I think, faid the
Shepherd, poor neighbour Wilfon gave fome-
what about four pounds a year, or it might
be guineas." — " Very well, faid Mr. John-
fon, and what will the Clerk's place be worth,
think you ?" " About three pounds," was the
anfwer.

" i\ow, continued Mr. John fori, my plan
is, that the Shepherd fhould take that houfe
immediately ; for as the poor man is dead,
there will be no need of waiting till quarter
day, if I make up the difference." " True
Sir, faid Mr. Jenkins, and I am fure my
Wife's Father, whom I expeft to-morrow,
will willingly aflift a little towards buying
forne of the Clerk's old goods. And the
foo jr they remove the better, for poor Mary
caught that bad rheumatifm by deeping under

( Zl )

a leaky thatch." The Shepherd was too muck
moved to fpeak, and Mmry could hardly fob
out, "oh Sir, you are too good, indeed this
houfe wi'l do very well." " It may do very
well for you and your children Mary, faid
Mr. Johnfon, gravely, but it will not do for
a School ; the kitchen is neither large nor
light enough. Shepherd, continued he, with
your good Mmifters leave, and kind aflift-
ance, i propofe to let up in this parifh a Sun-
day School, and to make you the Mailer. It
will not at all interfere with your weekly cal-
ling, and its the only lawful way m which
you could turn the Sabbath into a da} of 'onie
■little profit to your family, by doirg, is I
hope, a great -deal of good to the Souls ql o-
thers. The reft of the week you will work
as ufual. The difference of rent between this
houfe and the Clerk's I ihall pay myfelf, fo|r
to put you into a better houfe at your own
-expence would be no great ad of kindnefs.* — -
As for honeft Mary, who is not fit for hard
labour, or any out of door work, I propofe
to endow a fmali weekly fchoo:, of which
fhe (hall be the Miftrefs, and employ her no-
table turn to good account, by teaching ten
or a dozen girls to knit, few, fptn, card, or
any other ufeful way of getting their bread ;
for all this I dial! only pay her the ufual price,
for I am not going to make you rich, but ufe-
ful."

'* Not rich, Sir ?" cried the Shepherd.
How can 1 ever be thankful enough fur fuch

bleliin^s*

( 22 )

bleffings ? And will my poor Mary have
a dry thatch over her head ? and rhali 1 be
able to fend for a do&or when I am like to
loofe her ? Indeed my cap runs over with
bleffings, I hope God will give me humility."
Here he and Masy looked at each other and
burft into tears. The Gentlemen faw their
diftrefs and kindly walked out upon the little
green before the door, that thefe honeft peo-
ple 'mighj give vent to their feelings, As
Joan as tbey were atone rhey crept into one
corner of theroon\ w here they could not be
feen and tell on thtii knees, devoutly praif-
ing God fo 1 " his mercies. Never wtre heavi-
er pravers pretenied, than this grateful couple
offered up to \heir benefadors. The warmth
of their grttitufi& could only be equalled by
the earneftnefs with which they beiought the
bleffing of God on the work in which they
'Were going to engage.

The two Gentlemen now left this happy
family, and walked to the parfonage, where
the evening was fpent in a manner very edi-
fying to Mr. Johnfon, who the next da) took
all proper meafures for putting the Shepherd
in immediate poffeffion of his now comfort-
able habitation. Mr. Jenkins's father-in-law,
the worthy Gentleman who gave the Shep-
herd's Wife the blankets, in thefirft part of
this hiftory, arrived at the Parfonage before
Mr, johnfon left it, and abided in fitting up
" be Clerk's Cottage.

Mr. Johtifow

Mr. Johnfon took his leave, promifing t©
gallon the worthy Minifler ^rd hi neu ! ;k
©nee a year, in his Summer's joarney over the
P|2in, as long as itlhould preafe God tofpare
nis life,— -We hope he will never fail to give
us an account ot thefe vifits which we fhall
be glad to lay before our readers t they
ftould contain inftruftion or amulemenr.

FIN I &

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5

JUST PUBLISHED, AND SOLD BT

WILLIAM WATSON and SON
Mo. 7, Capel-Street.

The T wo Wealthy Farmers ift Part Price id

Ritto 2d Part - 1 J

Ditto, 3d Part, and a #ew Song on an oldbtory 1
Ditto, 4th Part, and aPoctical Tale - *
Ditto, 5th Part -
Ditto, 6th Part
Ditto, 7'h Part
Two Shoe makers, 1 ft Part
Ditto, 2d Part - . -
Ditto, 3d Part - - t - "
Ditto, 4th Part, and Tarn the Carpet
Dialogue between James Stock and William

Simpion " n ^

Shepherd of Salifcury Plain, ift Part

Ditto, 2d Part - - "
HiftoryofTom White the Poftihon, ift Part,

Ditto, 2d Part - - .

HKlery of Mary Wood the Houie-maid
The Biftory of Charles Jones the Foot man
Beggarly Boy

Good Mothers Legacy -
Hiftory of John Doyle
Two Soldiers -
Life of William Baker - ;
The G*:mefter, and the Story of finful bally,
The Pilgrims, an Allegory
Farley the Porter, an Allegory
Path to Riches and Happinefs
The General RdurrecYion
The Two Srtes
The happy Waterman
Hdftandry Moralized
The Carpenter

The Apprentice's Monitor -
The tforfe Race -
The Dram Shop ?

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